Visualising the Emotional Response to LONDON 2012

Tag Archives: Drew Hemment

The emoto project captures and visualises the excitement around the Olympic Games in London 2012. emoto moves from real-time (web-based visualisation and mobile app, launching 26 July) to echo (sensory installation, during the Paralympics) to archive (data sculpture, at the Cultural Olympiad closing event).

Real-time data visualisation Our real-time data visualisation shows both the big picture, the world from above, and the intimate and personal. In topics view, we see the big picture, which event, athlete or topic is generating the most attention in the moment, and the mix of positive and negative emotions for each. The anecdotal and ephemeral is seen in the message stream view. An overview on each day shows an even bigger picture, the trends and patterns. This is a whole new way to experience and make sense of the pulse of the Games.

Data Sculpture

The data art sculpture at WE PLAY Expois a cumulative record of the collective response to the Olympics, with projected overlays conveying individual stories. In addition, the emoto team will blog about interesting findings in the digital visualisations – for example where a cluster of comments can be attributed to a particular event or sports person – providing a more in-depth analysis of these historic sporting events which are being experienced and shared by online audiences.

emoto launches on 26 July online, the day before the Olympic Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, and provides a unique real-time manifestation of the worldwide mood in response to London 2012.